Connection system and method for a vehicle tool, e.g., plow

ABSTRACT

A connection system for a vehicle tool such as a plow, comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle. A tool connector unit is adapted to be secured to a vehicle tool. A male and female connector system is between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween. A latch unit latches at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement. An interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority on U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/528,885, filed on Aug. 30, 2011, incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE APPLICATION

The present application generally relates to a connection system and method for releasably connecting a tool to a vehicle for subsequent hauling or driving, such as the connection of a plow to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

It is often desired to releasably connect tools to vehicles to perform specific occasional tasks. For instance, plows, such as snowplows, may be used on a temporary basis on a vehicle. However, if the vehicle is a domestic vehicle such as a pick-up truck or an all-terrain vehicle, it may be desired to disconnect the plow after use, as the plow may be cumbersome.

Existing systems often require the user to move out of the vehicle to align the tool with the vehicle. The vehicle must then be driven forward to engage the tool to the vehicle, etc. The release of the tool from the vehicle may also be cumbersome, and may often require that the user step out of the vehicle and attend to the tool under the vehicle. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a connection system that simplifies the temporary connection of the vehicle tool to the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a connection system for vehicle tools that addresses issues associated with the prior art.

It is a further aim of the present disclosure to provide a method for releasably connecting a tool to a vehicle.

Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided a connection system for a vehicle tool, comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle; a tool connector unit adapted to be secured to a vehicle tool; a male and female connector system between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween; a latch unit latching at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement; and an interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system.

Further in accordance with the present application, there is provided an assembly of a plow and a connection system, comprising: a plow; and a connection system comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle; a tool connector unit secured to the plow; a male and female connector system between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween; a latch unit latching at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement; and an interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system.

Still further in accordance with the present application, there is provided a method for connecting a vehicle tool to a vehicle, comprising: aligning a tool connector unit connected to the vehicle tool with a vehicle structure unit on the vehicle; manually raising the tool connector unit by handling an arm unit of the tool connector unit; moving the vehicle forward to cause the latching engagement of the tool connector unit with the vehicle structure unit; and releasing the arm unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connection system for a tool such as a plow;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the connection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connection system of FIG. 1, with latches in position for the disengagement of the vehicle tool;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connection system of FIG. 1, with a vehicle structure unit moved out of engagement with a tool connector unit;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connection system of FIG. 1, with a tool connector unit thereof in alignment with a vehicle structure unit thereof; and

FIG. 6 is an assembly view of components of the connection system for vehicle tool of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a connection system for a vehicle tool at 10. The connection system for vehicle tool may be used with any appropriate type of vehicle, such as trucks, cars, all-terrain vehicles, etc. The vehicle tool may be any appropriate tool that is pushed (e.g., driven) or pulled (e.g., hauled) by the vehicle. For instance, the vehicle tool may be a plow, such as a snowplow.

The connection system 10 has a vehicle structure unit 12 that may become an integral or temporary part of the vehicle, and a tool connector unit 13.

The vehicle structure unit 12 is the structural component of the connection system 10 and attaches to the vehicle or is integral with the vehicle.

The tool connector unit 13 attaches to the tool, and is releasably connectable to the vehicle structure unit 12. The tool connector unit 13 is therefore the interface between the vehicle structure unit 12 and the vehicle tool.

In FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example of a vehicle tool in plow 14. The plow 14 is of the type that is pushed by a vehicle to plow away loose matter, such as snow, gravel, etc.

To provide context, the plow 14 is secured to the tool connector unit 13 by a pair of structural members 15 or any appropriate structural configuration. An interface 16 interrelates the plow 14 to the structural member 15. The interface 16 may be a pivot mount by which the plow 14 is pivotally mounted to the structural member 15. The pivot mount is one possible configuration among others for the connection between the plow 14 and the structural members 15. For instance, there may be a rigid connection (i.e., no degree of freedom) between the structural members 15 and the tool. Moreover, it is observed from FIG. 1 that a biasing unit(s) may be used as well to ensure the plow 14 maintains a given orientation when possible. As mentioned previously, any appropriate vehicle tool may be used with the connection system 10, and the description of the plow 14 given above is for illustrative purposes only.

Referring concurrently to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle structure unit 12 is shown in greater detail. The vehicle structure unit 12 consists of a body 20. In an illustrated embodiment, the body 20 is a rigid plate having a top planar surface. However, any other appropriate shape for the body 20 is considered, for instance to customize the vehicle structure unit 12 to an underside of a vehicle. The vehicle structure unit 12 is illustrated as supporting four different U-bolts, i.e., U-clamps. Therefore, by way of the U-bolts 21, the vehicle structure unit 12 may be secured to an undersurface of the vehicle. Accordingly, once U-bolts 21 secure the body 20 to the vehicle, the vehicle structure unit 12 is integral with the vehicle. The U-bolts 21 typically connect to the structural parts of the vehicle, such as the chassis. It is understood that any other appropriate configuration or connection means may be used to secured the vehicle structure unit 12 to the vehicle. For instance, the vehicle structure unit 12 may be bolted directly to the vehicle or welded directly thereto, among numerous other possible configurations.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the vehicle structure unit 12 features a pair of brackets 22 (one of which is shown). The brackets 22 each have a portion that projects downwardly from the body 20, upon which portion is a male connector 23. The male connector 23 may be a pin, a bolt, or any other projecting component. The pin may be molded or cast directly with the bracket 22, may be bolted thereto, welded thereto, etc. In any selected embodiment, the brackets 22 and the male connectors 23 of the vehicle structure unit 12 must have the necessary strength to sustain the forces applied thereon by the driving/hauling of the vehicle tool. The male connectors 23 may be opposed ends of a single rod, etc. The male connectors 23 may have a circular section as illustrated, or any other appropriate sectional shape.

Referring concurrently to FIGS. 1-3, the tool connector unit 13 is shown having a structural base 30. The structural base 30 is connected to the vehicle tool. In the illustrated embodiment, the structural base 30 is integral with the vehicle tool. More specifically, the structural base is a bar that is connected to the free ends of both the structural members 15 of the vehicle tool. Female connectors 31 are positioned at opposed ends of the bar and are thus part of the structural base 30. The female connectors 31 are laterally oriented U-shaped plates, each defining a slot 32 oriented away from the tooling end of the vehicle tool.

A latch 33 is pivotally mounted to the structural base 30. The latch 33 therefore moves between the position of FIG. 3, in which the latch 33 is away from the slots 32 to allow entry and exit of the male connectors 23. The other position of the latch 33 is shown at FIG. 2, in which the latch 33 maintains the male connectors 23 captive therein. A push bar 34 may interrelate the latches 33 such that they move concurrently. Therefore, in an embodiment, the latches 33 may move concurrently in their pivoting motion relative to the structural base 30. Other configurations are possible, for instance with the latches 33 moving independently from one another. The latches 33 are shaped and oriented to expose a contact surface or contact edge (i.e., a ramp surface or ramp edge, sliding surface/edge) to the incoming male connectors 23. Hence, when the male connectors 23 contact the contact surfaces of the latches 33, the latches 33 move away to the position of FIG. 3.

A biasing unit 35, partially visible in FIG. 3, biases the latches 33 to the position of FIG. 2, namely the position by which the slots 32 are closed off by the latches. The biasing unit 35 may be a helical spring, a leaf spring, or any other appropriate biasing component. Moreover, the tool connector unit 13 may feature more than one biasing unit 35, for instance to increase biasing forces or if the latches 33 are independent.

An interface, in the form of an arm unit 36, is integrally connected to the push bar 34 and may be used to displace the latch 33 away from the biased position of FIG. 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the arm unit 36 features a telescopic arm 37. The telescopic arm 37 projects laterally from the tool connector unit 13. The telescopic arm 37 is manually handled by the user to operate the connection system 10. The telescopic arm 37 is in a telescopic relation with a square-section tube 38, although other sectional shapes are possible as well. The tube 38 is fixedly secured to the push bar 34. As shown in FIG. 6, a pin 39 may be used with appropriate holes in both the telescopic arm 37 and tube 38, so as to adjust the length by which the telescopic arm 37 projects out of the housing 38. While the telescopic arm 37 is inserted in the tube 38 in the illustrated embodiment, other configurations are also possible.

Now that the various components of the connection system 10 have been described, an installation of the vehicle tool to the vehicle is set forth.

Firstly, the vehicle structure unit 12 must be secured appropriately to the vehicle or must be integral with the vehicle. This is typically done, for instance, before the vehicle tool is used for the first time. The vehicle structure unit 12 may be permanently secured to the vehicle, or may be removed once the vehicle tool is no longer required, for instance after a season, in the event that the vehicle tool is of the seasonal-use type (e.g., snowplow). The tool connector unit 13 is connected to the vehicle tool for the method of installation of the tool to be performed.

The vehicle and the vehicle tool are then aligned with one another. In the illustrated example, FIG. 5 shows a suitable alignment, with the vehicle being illustrated by the vehicle structure unit 12 on the left-hand side of the page. The vehicle then moves towards the tool connector unit 13, with a forward movement of the vehicle being in a direction generally collinear with a longitudinal axis of the structural members 15. The vehicle is stopped when in close proximity to the tool connector unit 13.

The telescopic arm 37 is arranged so as to project laterally beyond a side of the vehicle, such that it may be manually handled from the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle bends over to grasp the telescopic arm 37 and subsequently raises the tool connector unit 13. It may be required that the vehicle roll over the telescopic arm 37 once aligned as described above. Alternatively, the telescopic arm 37 may be installed once the vehicle is in close proximity to the tool connector unit 13. In the latter case, all necessary precautions must be taken to ensure that the installation is performed safely (e.g., vehicle turned off, park brake actuated, etc.). The illustrated arm 37 is on the right-hand side of the vehicle, and may thus be used with an all-terrain vehicle, etc. For standard left-driving side vehicles, the arm 37 may project on the left-hand side instead. Moreover, as some vehicles are higher above the ground (e.g., pick-up truck), the arm 37 may have an upwardly-projecting component to be readily grasped by the driver of the vehicle from the driver's seat.

In raising the tool connector unit 13, its female connectors 31 are generally aligned with the male connectors 23 of the vehicle structure unit 12. The vehicle is at that point driven forward further, whereby the male connectors 23 contact the latches 33. The latches 33 therefore latch away from the position of FIG. 2 by this engaging action, making way for the male connectors 23 to fit inside the slots 32. The biasing unit 35 then biases the push bar 34 and latches 33 back to the position of FIG. 2, whereby the male connectors 23 are held captive in the female connectors 31. At that point, the vehicle tool may be used. The tool connector unit 13 is connected to the vehicle structure unit 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

In order to release the tool from the vehicle, the user applies a force A on the arm unit 36, as shown in FIG. 3. In doing so, the latches 33 move out of the way of the slots 32. The pivoting motion is illustrated by arrow B.

The vehicle is then moved in the opposite direction, as shown by arrows C in FIG. 4. In moving away from the vehicle tool, the male connectors 23 move out of the slots 32, and the tool connector unit 13 falls to the ground.

As shown in FIG. 5, once the force on the arm unit 36 is released, the latches 33 are biased back to the latched position illustrated in FIG. 5, but with the vehicle structure unit 12 separated therefrom.

It is pointed out that the latching mechanism may be part of the vehicle structure unit 12 instead of the tool connector unit 13. In such a case, an alternate way to raise the tool connector unit 13 would be required, for the vertical alignment of the vehicle structure unit 12 with the tool connector unit 13. For instance, the arm 37 could be connected to other parts of the structural base 30. 

1. A connection system for a vehicle tool, comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle; a tool connector unit adapted to be secured to a vehicle tool; a male and female connector system between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween; a latch unit latching at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement; and an interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system.
 2. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one female connector is a laterally-oriented U-shaped plate.
 3. The connection system according to claim 2, comprising two of the U-shaped plate, and wherein the latch unit comprises a latch selectively closing access to each said U-shaped plate.
 4. The connection system according to claim 3, wherein the latches are integrally connected to one another to be concurrently biased by the at least one biasing element.
 5. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one male connector is a pin.
 6. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle structure unit comprises a structural plate adapted to be secured to the underside of the vehicle, with brackets projecting from the structural plate, the at least one male connector being connected to the brackets.
 7. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the interface is an arm projecting sideways from the latch unit.
 8. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the arm is a telescopic arm.
 9. The connection system according to claim 8, wherein the arm has a pedal surface at an actuatable end thereof.
 10. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the latch unit and the at least one female connector are on the tool connector unit.
 11. An assembly of a plow and a connection system, comprising: a plow; and a connection system comprising: a vehicle structure unit adapted to be secured to an underside of a vehicle; a tool connector unit secured to the plow; a male and female connector system between the vehicle structure unit and the tool connector unit for the mating engagement therebetween; a latch unit latching at least one male connector of the connector system into a corresponding female connector for releasable engagement, the latch unit comprising at least one biasing element to bias the latch unit into the releasable engagement; and an interface connected to the latch unit for operating the latch unit in disengaging the male and female connector system.
 12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the at least one female connector is a laterally-oriented U-shaped plate, and wherein the latch unit comprises a latch selectively closing access to each said U-shaped plate.
 13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the latches are integrally connected to one another to be concurrently biased by the at least one biasing element.
 14. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle structure unit comprises a structural plate adapted to be secured to the underside of the vehicle, with brackets projecting from the structural plate, the at least one male connector being connected to the brackets.
 15. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the interface is an arm projecting sideways from the latch unit.
 16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the arm has a pedal surface at an actuatable end thereof.
 17. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the latch unit and the at least one female connector are on the tool connector unit.
 18. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the tool connector unit comprises at least one elongated member, with the plow being at one end of the elongated member, and part of the male and female connector system being at the other end of the elongated member.
 19. A method for connecting a vehicle tool to a vehicle, comprising: aligning a tool connector unit connected to the vehicle tool with a vehicle structure unit on the vehicle; manually raising the tool connector unit by handling an arm unit of the tool connector unit; moving the vehicle forward to cause the latching engagement of the tool connector unit with the vehicle structure unit; and releasing the arm unit.
 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: actuating the arm unit to disengage a latching of the tool connector unit with the vehicle structure unit; and simultaneously moving the vehicle away from engagement with the tool. 